_Cyril_ expels the _Jews_ out of _Alexandria_; _Orestes_ complains to
the Emperor; _Cyril_ and _Orestes_ become irreconcileable Enemies.
One main Reason why _Cyril_ could not bear the Governor, as we are told
by _Socrates_, was, that _Orestes hated the Principality of the Bishops;
as well because they transferred to themselves much of the Power
belonging to those appointed Governors, by the Emperor; as, in
particular, because _Cyril_ would needs be prying into his Actions_.
Their Enmity became sufficiently known to the Publick, by a Sedition
raised against _Orestes_, occasioned by one _Hierax_ a pitiful
School-Master, but a profest Admirer of the Bishop, and a most diligent
Attendant at his Sermons, where he was sure to clap and reclap,
according to the rare Custom of those Times. The Jews spying him in the
Theatre, while the Governor was there on some publick Business, cryed
out, that he came purposely thither to cause Mischief; and the Uproar,
whereof the Particulars may be read in the just quoted _Socrates_,
terminated in this, that _Cyril_ expelled all the Jews out of the City,
where they had liv’d in great Opulence from the Time of _Alexander_ the
Great, to the no small Benefit of the Place. Were I not accustomed to
read monstrous Lies of this unfortunate Nation, especially that
thread-bare Fiction of crucifying a Child (objected to them here as a
thousand Times afterwards) I should think them very rightly served. But
even in that Case, who can justify _Cyril_’s licensing the Multitude to
seize on their Goods? And yet why do I ask such a Question; when this
has ever been the true Motive of the Barbarities to which they have been
exposed, tho’ Zeal for Religion has been as shamelessly as wickedly
pretended. _Orestes_, as became a good Governor, _being grievously
concerned at what had happened_ (to speak in the Words of the Historian)
_and sadly afflicted, that so great a City should be so suddenly emptied
of such a Multitude of Inhabitants, gave the Emperor an Account of the
whole Matter_. We might be certain, were we not expressly told it, that
_Cyril_ was not behind Hand on his Part. Yet conscious of his Guilt, as
every Reader may collect, he would fain make up with _Orestes_, and
conjured him by the holy _Gospels_ to be Friends; being constrained to
this, as _Nicephorus_ observes, by the People of _Alexandria_, who loved
their Governor. But this last knew him too well to trust him, upon which
their Difference became irreconcileable. You may therefore expect to
hear of Vengeance from the Priest, whom the same _Nicephorus_ represents
proud, seditious, a Boutefeu, a Persecutor: while the Emperor might
thank himself for the Disorders that desolated one of his principal
Cities; for where was it ever otherwise, when the Clergy were permitted
to share in the Government of civil Affairs.